We have just a few words for Chris Willis, a new Muskegon resident who is starting the group, Friends of Muskegon Dog Beach:

You go, girl!

Willis’ nonprofit organization will help protect and support an asset to the city that was threatened by budget cuts and a strapped city parks and public works department.

Since the dog beach was created in 1999 between the north edge of Kruse Park and the curve on Beach Street, the 3,000-foot stretch of beach has become a dog lover’s destination.

The location in front of Muskegon’s towering sand dunes is attractive for a variety of reasons. It is thought to be the largest dog beach in the state on the Great Lakes. It is not wedged next to the boat ramp or some other less desirable location and dogs can be off their leashes at the waterline.

Tourism officials say more and more they receive requests about pet friendly locations from families considering visiting the area. “Pets are part of the family and are part of family travel plans,” said Jill Emery, Muskegon County tourism manager. “We receive a great deal of interest in pet friendly locations and for Muskegon’s Dog beach.”

If the dog beach draws families here, there’s plenty of other cultural and recreational activities to keep them occupied. It couldn’t be a better match.

Willis envisions her organization supplying biodegradable bags at two locations for pet owners to use when cleaning up after their pets, which should help eliminate the No. 1 complaint about the beach. She also sees members providing patrols and education as informal “ambassadors” at the beach.

Willis said group members also plan to provide financial support for the beach the same way “friends” groups support libraries, symphonies or even sports teams. The group also has adopted the beach through the Alliance for the Great Lakes and will do monthly beach cleanups and periodic water sampling.

Hopefully, Willis’ group will expand a trend that is under way in Muskegon. Lakeshore Baseball Club, led by Pete Gawkowski and Len Piasecki, had a terrific summer operating, maintaining and improving Marsh Field, something that had become difficult for the cash-strapped city.

The city and Muskegon schools also partnered in providing winter recreation and the Community Foundation for Muskegon County partnered with a federal grant to provide summer recreation programs last year. An expansion of that effort is expected this summer with the city offering $75,000 in seed money to a variety of organizations willing to provide summer activities for students.

There are plenty of opportunities for people with a special attachment to services that have been discontinued. One area of concern in 2010 was the lack of lifeguards at Pere Marquette beach. Hopefully, something can be worked out with an organization willing to partner with the city to provide lifeguards or at least to operate the flag system providing warnings to swimmers and sail boarders in the Pere Marquette Beach area.

Another concern was the cleanliness of the beach and nearby Margaret Drake Elliot Park. Individuals and a Girl Scout troop spent time picking up the beach last summer. It would be great if a group of Scout troops would commit to cleaning the beach all summer. Their hard work might be enough to prompt beach users to pick up after themselves.

With the tough economic issues facing counties, cities and townships, a lot of “niceties” are on the chopping block as communities struggle to maintain essential services like public safety and passable roads.

Citizens groups can help ease the pain and protect investments already made in parks and playgrounds.